Carolina Fan Expo (Hickory, North Carolina)

October 13, 2018

CAROLINA FAN EXPO at Select Sportsplex in Hickory, NC on Saturday, October 13th, 2018, 10 am until 6 pm HICKORY, NC-Select Sportsplex, is proud to announce its annual Pop Culture and Comic Convention, Carolina Fan Expo, sponsored by GameStop, The Dugout Cards and Games (www.comicshickorync.com), Lake Hickory Haunts and Xscape (www.LakeHickoryHaunts.com/www.XscapeNC.com), supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (www.secondharvestmetrolina.org), and featuring Fox’s Gotham star Drew Powell. (Presented by Heroes for Hire…www.heroesforhire.info). Since 2014, Actor Drew Powell has starred in Fox’s hit series Gotham playing both gangster Butch Gilzean and, most recently, the infamous Batman villain Solomon Grundy. He made his television debut in a recurring role on the hit series “Malcolm in the Middle,” and then played the young “Hoss Cartwright” in the “Bonanza” prequel, “The Ponderosa.” Additionally, he has made guest starring appearances on such renown shows as “Ray Donovan,” “Aquarius,” “Major Crimes,” “Castle,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “True Blood,” “Modern Family,” “NCIS,” “Bones” and “American Horror Story.” On film, Powell has been seen in the science fiction thriller “Geostorm,” and, for his starring role in director Rod Lurie’s remake of “Straw Dogs,” he won Best TV/Film Crossover Actor at the Beverly Hills Film, TV & Media Festival. Other feature film appearances include “Message from the King” with Chadwick Boseman; “Sex, Death and Bowling,” with Adrian Grenier; “Touchback,” directed by Don Handfield; “Starship Troopers 2”; “The Marine”; “Mexican Sunrise”; and “1408,” with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. His theater work includes playing the role of “Bear,” alongside Paul Reubens in both the Los Angeles and Broadway productions of the stage revival of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” There will be raffles and donations accepted to help raise funds and fulfill needs for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHFBM) strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. SHFBM has been in existence since 1981. They provide a regional distribution warehouse and branches that supply food and grocery items to charitable agencies that assist people in need. In addition, they provide training, technical assistance and hunger education to our partner agencies. Second Harvest serves a total of 19 counties – 14 counties in North Carolina (including Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, and Gaston) and 5 counties in South Carolina. The event will host dozens of vendors; including local artists and authors, in addition to Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart Video Game Tournaments and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 free play hosted by GameStop. Other attractions include; card, board, and RPG gaming tournaments hosted by The Dugout Card and Games, The Lake Hickory Haunts Morbid State Asylum 4D Experience (https://youtu.be/WaYgWkmkqKU), food trucks, bounce houses, (www.sugarpeasparties.com), face painting, balloon artistry, celebrity panels, Cosplay Contest, Celebrity Autographs, Meet and Greets, and Photo Ops, and a LIVE concert by South Carolina’s own Antler Hill (www.antlerhillarts.com). The event will be hosted by Self-Published Author and Writer, Director, and Producer of the Facebook LIVE Dramatic Web Series-The Dusk Series, Ronald J. Rossmann Jr. (www.facebook.com/duskseries). Other VIPs include: WCW Wrestling Legend and Actor Rob Kellum (Aka Papa Maestro); Country Music Star and Dove Award 2017 First Ballot Nominee, KasCie Page; Marvel Comics, Zenescope Comics, and Upper Deck Artist and Illustrator, Gregbo Watson; Award-winning DC, Marvel, and Disney comics illustrator Al Bigley; NC Actor and Producer of No Child (2016), A Short Trip (2015), and Walk Through The Valley (2015), Will Williams; and The Carolinas Queen of Cosplay, Misty Yates. Come and compete in our Cosplay Contest. All you need to participate is your best Costume and a canned good to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Cosplay registration starts at 10 am, with prejudging ending at 4:30 pm, and showcase and final judging from 5 pm until 5:30 pm. Entries will be limited to the first 90 participants, so come in early and ready to shine. Prizes for: Best Adult, Best Teen, Best Child, and Best Group (rules and restrictions available at www.thecarolinafanexpo.com). Finally, the newly formed CPW (Classic Pro Wrestling) and the Legends of Wrestling; Chuck Sloan, “Buckshot” Carter, Bret “The Crippler” Watson, and His Lovely Manager and Professional Model Micky May will be hosting a 3 card match Friday night, October 12th at the SelectSportsplex. Attendees of the event will be party to an exclusive screening of Papa Stro’s Film Documentary “The Maestro” by Green Hero Films prior to the matches on Friday. The CPW stars great athletes that provide family-friendly sports entertainment with larger than life characters and physical feats. They are fully licensed and adhere to all rules and regulations of the State Athletic Commission.